FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT SUNSET BEACH

NEWPORT BEACH (KTLA) - A so-called “King Tide” is being blamed for flooding in several coastal communities in Orange County on Thursday, according to KTLA . The National Weather Service is forecasting high tides along with rip currents for local beaches and all along the West Coast. The alignment of the earth, moon and sun is giving the seas an extra gravitational kick onto the shore, which can cause flooding in low-lying areas. Early morning flooding was reported in Sunset Beach, Huntington Harbor and Newport Beach.

INSIDE THE PILOT LIFE & LEISURE When members of the Outdoor Club want to climb rocks in Costa Mesa or bike from Sunset Beach to Balboa Pier, they go online. ALSO: Get tips from Karen Wight's 'No Place Like Home' column on how to decorate your home for the holidays without going bust. See Page A5 COMMUNITY FORUM New Costa Mesa Mayor Karen Robinson talks with City Editor James Meier about her goals for her one-year term and answers criticism that she doesn't have time for the office.

COSTA MESA — It's no surprise that any move made by city leaders can get people talking — and worrying. When Costa Mesa CEO Tom Hatch named Rick Francis as his new assistant CEO, starting in early January, many wanted to know why he would leave his job as chief of staff for Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach. Others wanted to know how his work with the county would translate to city government. And a few even wondered about his time as a pastor for Newport Mesa Church in Costa Mesa.

The Newport Harbor High surf team began the second half of Sea View League competition the same way it completed the first half: undefeated. The Sailors remained unbeaten by running its perfect record to 5-0, defeating Santa Margarita at the Eagles' home surf area in Dana Point at the Strands Tuesday morning. Newport won four of the five events, winning boys short board, boys long board, girls short board and girls long board. The boys long boarders, featuring Chase Smith and Tanner Prairie, remained unbeaten for the season.

Costa Mesa man charged by FBI A Costa Mesa man was one of four people the FBI charged on Friday with multiple counts of mail fraud and money laundering that involved 800 victims across the country, officials said. James S. Eberhart, 61, was named in the indictment along with Eugene M. Carriere, 53, of Sunset Beach, Richard Hines, 57, of San Pedro, and Kenneth Gottlieb, 59, of Los Angeles, according to the indictment. Eberhart and Carriere were co-founders of the now defunct YES Entertainment Network Inc. in Newport Beach.

COSTA MESA — David A. Grant, a former president at Orange Coast College in the mid-1990s and a one-time U.S. Olympic Rowing Coach, has won the seat to represent Trustee Area 5 for the Coast Community College District, uncertified election results show. Grant, who ran on a platform of hiring more full-time faculty, reducing district office costs and making student success a top priority, defeated Lynne Riddle, a retired federal judge. Grant garnered 44% of the vote, or 67,746 votes, to Riddle's 34.9%, or 53,689 votes.

-- Story by Paul Clinton; photo by Greg Fry SHE IS Flying high with kites GO FLY A KITE Sitting in her shop window with the morning light on her shoulder, Cathy Kent is awash in kites. Red and white kites. Box and diamond kites. Kites of all shapes and sizes deck the walls of Kent's Balboa Peninsula shop. For Kent, who owns Kites Etc. with her husband, Steve, flying a kite can bring on a peaceful, easy feeling. "It's very relaxing," she said.

Newport Beach Fire Chief Tim Riley was honored with the Dave Snowden award at the Law and Order Awards banquet hosted by the Newport Harbor American Legion on Friday. The Newport Harbor legion post has hosted the banquet to honor local public safety agencies for 41 years. "If it weren't for them, we wouldn't be here ? they're our protectors," said legion member and event co-chairman Earl Fusselman. The Dave Snowden award, created after former Chief Snowden left the Costa Mesa Police Department in 2003, is given to an official who demonstrates a long-standing commitment to the community, Fusselman said.

Sunset Beach may soon apply to incorporate as a city but leave its beach in the care of Orange County, a recommendation made by a financial consultant at a recent town hall meeting. At the May 20 meeting, which about 100 residents attended, representatives from Willdan Financial Services laid out three possible scenarios for the seaside community becoming the newest — and smallest — city in the county. In the preferred scenario, which Sunset Beach Community Assn. President Greg Griffin also said he favored, Sunset would take control of the "green belt," a long, grassy strip by the beach, but let the shore remain under county oversight.

Actress Sandra Bullock appeared in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana Friday to obtain a three-year restraining order against a Huntington Beach woman who allegedly harassed her and her family. The restraining order requires Marcia Diana Valentine, 45, to stay 500 yards away from Bullock, her three step-sons, and her husband Jesse G. James at their home, their jobs, their children’s school or child care and movies or sets where the couple may work and hotels where the family might stay.